Miami-Dade prosecutors charge man with exploiting retired nurse, allegedly draining savings and transferring home title

Case centers on power of attorney, alleged deception and a Miami Shores property transfer

A 55-year-old Miami-Dade County man has been charged with multiple felonies after prosecutors alleged he took control of a retired nurse’s finances and property following a medical crisis that left her cognitively impaired and dependent on full-time care.

Prosecutors said the alleged victim was 71 and lived in Miami Shores with her disabled adult daughter. The woman died on December 16, 2022. Authorities contend the money in question represented life savings intended to protect the daughter’s long-term future.

Allegations include false identity claims and control over medical decisions

The defendant, Lyne Bien-Aime, is accused of gaining access to the woman’s life by presenting himself as a trusted figure connected to her church community. Prosecutors said he later misrepresented his relationship to the woman when dealing with medical authorities, including by claiming to be her nephew.

Investigators also allege he reached out to the woman’s family in New York and falsely represented himself as a medical doctor while offering to oversee her care. Prosecutors described the sequence of events as an effort to isolate the woman from relatives and position himself to control her affairs.

Financial and real estate conduct described as central to the criminal counts

Authorities allege Bien-Aime persuaded the woman to sign legal documents that granted him decision-making authority, including power of attorney. Prosecutors said that after obtaining that authority, he drained multiple bank accounts and emptied funds described as the victim’s life savings.

The case also involves a Miami Shores home. Prosecutors allege the property was transferred into Bien-Aime’s name through fraudulent means. Florida law separately criminalizes the filing of false documents affecting real or personal property, and prosecutors filed a charge alleging unlawful filing related to property records.

• Exploitation of an elderly or disabled person in an amount over $50,000 (first-degree felony)
• Grand theft from a person 65 or older in an amount over $50,000 (first-degree felony)
• Scheme to defraud in an amount over $50,000 (first-degree felony)
• Unlawful filing of false documents or records against real or personal property (third-degree felony)

Family relocation of the adult daughter and pending court process

Prosecutors said the woman’s disabled adult daughter was taken to New York by relatives during the period of the mother’s health crisis and has remained there since. Authorities described that relocation as protecting the daughter from further instability as the alleged exploitation unfolded.

The charges are allegations, and Bien-Aime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. Court proceedings will determine whether prosecutors can substantiate claims involving the alleged misuse of power of attorney, the movement of funds, and the property transfer.

The case highlights how cognitive impairment and reliance on caregivers can create opportunities for financial exploitation, particularly when legal authority and access to accounts or property records are involved.